Photography seminar with Mattias Klum

Held in conjunction with Month of Photography Asia 2010, this exhibition by acclaimed National Geographic photographer Mattias Klum is a powerful and revealing testimony of the devastation of Borneo’s tropical rainforests, which are among the oldest and most biologically diverse in the world. Forest-dwelling people, such as the Penan have depended on Borneo’s rainforests for centuries to supply most of their needs in ways that do not threaten the integrity of these complex ecosystems. Today, the Penan way of life, and many native plant and animal species in Borneo, face increasing threats from deforestation.
Tebaran is a blowpipe hunter and one of the last nomadic Penan headmen, who is struggling to survive with his family in a world that is disappearing. Through the eyes of Tebaran, Klum takes us deep into the heart of Borneo where we experience the island’s diverse flora and fauna, and witness what could be at stake if the island’s majestic forests are lost forever.

Specialising in portraying and interpreting threatened environments, species, and cultures, Klum has dedicated over 20 years to exploring Borneo. On his longest expedition, he and his team carried around 1.3 tons of gear into the island’s interior, including camera and filmmaking equipment, solar panels for power, and a hot air balloon to provide aerial views of the forest. There, they worked from platforms 60 metres up in the tree canopies and hidden in blinds on the forest floor to show this amazing forest in a new way.

The Testament of Tebaran aims to not only raise awareness about traditional culture, biodiversity and forest loss in Borneo, but also to educate viewers on the positive difference we can make in our daily choices and through supporting key conservation efforts.

“Thoughtfulness begins with seeing. My job as a photographer is to make that seeing easier. What we appreciate and are fascinated by, we will also want to preserve.” – Mattias Klum

Date: 3 July 2010
Time: 10am – 12pm
Venue: Ngee Ann Auditorium, Asian Civilisations Museum

More details here.

“Gifts From The Sea” – The Finest Pictures of Ocean Geographic 21 November 2009 – 20 December 2009

L2 SPACE gallery has selected over 60 of the finest images from some of the world’s best nature photographers including aspirants based in Singapore. Beyond the traditional and popular images, a collection of astounding creatures of the seas will be revealed for the very first time in a public exhibition; it even includes the first picture of the Titanic when it was first found at 3.81 km (125,000 ft) beneath the Atlantic Ocean. With modern equipment and photographic technique, these artists have used their cameras and passionately uncovered our ocean’s magnificence and vulnerability, demystifying the rarely seen depths and its creatures.

The exhibition will feature works from some of the world’s best nature photographers and artists including Wyland, David Doubilet, Ernie H Brooks II, Doug Perrine, Emory Kristof and Michael Aw, as well as Singapore-based artists Ivan Choong, Mikael Jigmo and Edward Dixon. The exhibition is also the official launch of the Elysium Epic, a benchmark imagery expedition to the Antarctica by some of the world’s best underwater image maker.

The exhibition is from 21 November to 20 December 2009. Admission is free.

There are however, seminars which you can attend (for a fee) – check out L2′s site for details:

Link